Verizon and Unions Reach Agreement to End Strike Without a New Contract

Saturday afternoon along Old Lancaster Road by the , a Verizon accountant from Georgia peered six feet down into a manhole, monitoring the safety of a Verizon engineer fixing a fiber line that provides internet to .

At the same time, above ground in Manhattan and Washington, DC, Verizon management and union leaders were announcing the end of the walkout that put two verizon desk jockeys out on the line in Berwyn.

The accountant, who asked not to be identified by name, has been here for two weeks and had been with another phone company before it became part of Verizon. The engineer, who had more experience with splicing fiber lines, was down in the manhole where a river of cables runs under the street.

They may be two of the reasons the unions decided it was better to go back to work without a contract settlement.

Verizon and the unions both issued press releases on Saturday afternoon.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) wThe combined unions held rallies decrying Verizon management as "corporate pigs" and saying they would not agreee to pay any of the cost of their health benefits. Local strikers told Patch they were fighting for the survivak of the middle class.

The unions appear to have changed their tone

13 days later the union tone was far more conciliartory. A joint CWA/IBEW press release issued at 1 p.m. Saturday reads:

"Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.

We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.

We appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.

CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England."

Verizon issues statement, holding to its position

For it's part, Verizon issued a press release that says the 45,000 striking workers will be returning to work on Monday. Verizon and the unions both said the workers would be governed by an indefinite extension of the contract which expired on August 6. While announcing the return to work, the Verizon press release appears to give no gound on the union's central issue of workers paying some of the cost of benefits out of pocket.

The Verizon press release reads in part:

Marc Reed, Verizon's executive vice president of human resources, said, "We agreed to end the strike because we believe that is in the best interest of our customers and our employees.  We remain committed to our objectives, and we look forward to negotiating the important issues that are integral to the future health of Verizon's wireline business."

He added:  "We are grateful to our management team for their leadership during the past 14 days in so ably meeting the needs of our customers.  The team's competence, dedication and hard work enabled us to withstand the strike without significant disruption to customer service, and to convince the unions to begin bargaining with us in good faith.  The fortitude and efforts of our managers have proven to be our strongest point of leverage in bargaining.  We are pleased that during this stressful economic period our union-represented employees will be back at work earning good wages and benefits while serving our customers."

Meanwhile, back in Berwyn

Saturday afternoon as the press releases were being posted, the accountant and the engineer were just working to get Conestoga's internet restored. While looking forward to having the union workers back on the line and to returning home (800 miles south of Berwyn) the accountant was ready to stay if need be.

The accountant-turned-line technician was not alone, and that appears to have made all the difference.